Andros Townsend's late strike was enough for England to secure a 1-1 draw with Italy in an international friendly in Turin this evening and stretch their unbeaten run to nine games.

Graziano Pelle's first-half header had put the home side in front, but Spurs winger Townsend made a good spell of pressure tell 10 minutes from time to give Roy Hodgson's side a share of the spoils.

Lazio's Marco Parolo was the first to try his luck and Joe Hart was forced to tip over the dipping long-range effort on 10 minutes.

England had Phil Jagielka to thank for keeping the scores level on 17 minutes when the Everton defender cleared Matteo Darmian's cross inside the six-yard box with Pelle lurking.

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Wayne Rooney almost broke the deadlock on 20 minutes but the Manchester United captain's downwards volley could only bounce up onto the cross bar.

Rooney's cross-field pass then freed Theo Walcott inside the area but the Arsenal forward's shot was well blocked by Andrea Ranocchia, and failed to trouble Gianluigi Buffon in the Italy goal.

Pelle broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark when he glanced home Giorgio Chiellini's cross into Hart's far corner.

A swift counter attack involving Eder and Roberto Florenzi saw a cross fizzed into Pelle, but the Southampton man just missed out on connecting.

Antonio Conte's side should have made it 2-0 less than five minutes into the second half but Hart did well to thwart Eder before Pelle shot wide with the goal at his mercy after a poor clearance.

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Harry Kane almost marked his full international debut but the Tottenham Hotspur striker's half-volley could only reach the side netting on 52 minutes.

Kieran Gibbs then wasted England's best chance when Rooney clipped the Arsenal defender in, and the left-back could only curl into the side netting with just Buffon to beat inside the area.

Kane's flick-on then released Barkley, but the Everton midfielder was thwarted by Chiellini with Rooney in acres of space in Italy's final third.

Rooney then saw a couple of chances arrive in quick succession but he couldn't convert Kane's low cross moments after the Three Lions skipper had fired powerfully straight at Buffon.

The Three Lions finally made the breakthrough when Townsend flashed a powerful effort into the top corner with his weaker right foot on the edge of the box with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Rooney was sent scampering through moments later but the striker's low effort was well saved by Buffon's legs as England pressed for a late winner.